Greenlodge Weekly Update 9/13/2021
#ReachForYourBest
Dear Greenlodge Families-
I am pleased to announce that we will have a school adjustment counselor starting with us on September 28th. Mrs. Elizabeth Caruso will be joining our Greenlodge Community. She comes to us with years of experience as an school adjustment counselor in an public elementary school. Elizabeth will be spending her first few days getting acclimated to the building and getting to know the school. I will work alongside her and the classroom teachers to come up with a transition plan for her to start working with students in for small group and whole class lessons.
Please mark your calendars for Open House which will be held on Wednesday September 29th. I will be sending out more information on the structure of the evening!
Best,
Jenny McGowan
Important Dates
- September 15th- Ice Cream Social hosted by the PTO 5:30-6:30 (new rescheduled date)
- September 15th- Hispanic Heritage Month begins
- September 15th- Beginning of Yom Kippur
- September 21st - 4th and 5th grade Families- Instrument Rental Night / 5-8pm at DHS Auditorium
- September 27th-October 1st - Scholastic Book Fair
- September 29th- Open House at Greenlodge (more information to come)
- October 5th - Professional Development, Dismissal at Noon
- October 6th- First Grade Dinner hosted by 2nd grade families (rescheduled from previous date)
- October 11th - No School , Columbus Day
***PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PTO NEWSLETTER BELOW FOR UPCOMING EVENTS!***
Breakfast/Lunch Reminders
Lunch: Each morning, please try to touch base with your child(ren) on whether or not they should be getting school lunch or home lunch.
Additionally, please make sure that your child(ren) is aware of what is being offered from the Food Services department each day. We want to make sure students have something to eat each day but know that they may not always like the choices offered. Please click the link below to access the Food and Nutrition website to get the monthly lunch menu.
Bus Students
We appreciate your help in making this a smooth process!
DPS COVID-19 School Based Testing Program Information
Even if you participated and consented to the program last year, you will need to complete an updated consent form.
Please click the link here to consent.
If you need the consent form in a specific language, please visit the DPS website for PDFs that can be printed and returned to the school secretary.
State-Mandated Health Screenings begin this week
Nurse Duckworth will begin the state-mandated health screenings this week and continue on an ongoing basis until they are completed. Screenings by grade are as follows:
1st Grade: Vision (Far, Near, and Stereopsis); Hearing; Height & Weight (BMI)
2nd Grade: Vision (Far, Near, and Stereopsis); Hearing
3rd Grade: Vision (Far, Near, Stereopsis); Hearing
4th Grade: Vision (Far, Near); Height & Weight (BMI)
5th Grade: Vision (Far, Near); Postural Screening
A referral letter is sent home if the student does not meet the vision, hearing, and postural screening parameters, recommending evaluation by your physician or vision professional.
Parents/guardians may opt out of the health screenings via email to the School Nurse and are encouraged to provide an updated physical exam form that the screenings have been completed by the PCP.
Notes from the Nurse
Covid-19 Symptoms: Monitor daily for symptoms. Please - keep your student home and have them tested immediately if they have below symptoms! Waiting to see if symptoms improve/worsen will only delay their return. Health officials have asked us to have a LOW THRESHOLD for testing because the delta variant is more infectious. With less physical distancing, there is potential for many close contacts if we have a positive case in school. Help us keep the virus out and sign up for testing so your student can stay if they are exposed.
Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when in combination with other symptoms
Headache when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
Health Conditions: if your student has a change in their health status or home medication routine, please contact me.
Food Allergies: We have several students at Greenlodge with life-threatening food allergies. NO OUTSIDE FOOD MAY BE BROUGHT IN FOR CLASSROOM TREATS. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Medication Administration & Accommodations: If your child needs medication or medical accommodations during school hours, please contact me. Signed medical orders are mandatory.
Health Portal: it is preferred that families use the SNAP Health Portal for communication and documentation. Please see the DPS Health Office website for information.
OTC Medication Approval: with your permission via SNAP, I can give Tylenol and Motrin for minor injuries or discomfort. All other OTC medications require a pediatrician order/letter, including creams, ointments, and sunscreen.
Service Dog: The Dedham Police Department Community Service Dog named Ruby visits us often with School Resource Officers. Please let me know if your student is not allowed to pet Ruby.
Physical Exams: Please send in updated physical forms from the pediatrician whenever your student has an annual visit. We are required by state regulation to ensure 4th grade students receive a physical exam.
Asking for Art
Thank you!
Attendance
- If your child is sick or will be out of school for any reason, please call the attendance line. 781-310-4799 to report the absence.
- If your child is required to stay home due to illness or quarantine , they are no longer able to attend school remotely.
- The school will excuse up to 7 absences in a six month period. Students who are chronically absent will receive notification from the school.
- Please see the student handbook for full details regarding attendance.
School Meals Program
All school meals will continue to be FREE for Dedham students through June 30, 2022. We still encourage families eligible for Free/Reduced lunch to complete the registration process, as it ensures you can benefit from the other program offerings including access to reduced fees in other areas. Also, please note that due to supply chain issues, our posted lunch menus may be subject to last minute changes.
Please see the Breakfast Flyer from our Food Service department.
PTO
Helpful Tips
- Please send your child in with a refillable water bottle everyday.
- Whenever possible we eat lunch and snack outside. You may want to pack a beach towel in your child's backpack to sit on.
- We encourage you to pack an extra mask in your child's backpack.
- Check out the DPS Back to School page for more helpful information.
Check-out the Greenlodge Homepage!
- Links to current and past newsletters and headlines
- Food service information
- Bus application
- Families Digital Support Page
- Counseling resources
- Coronavirus Updates
Other District Information...
Dedham Public Schools has translated resource pages:
Please click here for translated curriculum and resources.
Haga clic aquí para ver el currículo y los recursos traducidos.
Clique aqui para obter o currículo e os recursos traduzidos.
Пожалуйста, нажмите здесь для перевода учебной программы и ресурсов.
Ju lutemi klikoni këtu për kurrikulën dhe burimet e përkthyera.
الرجاء الضغط هنا للحصول على المناهج والمواد المترجمة.
There is also a Parent Support Group for Spanish speaking families.
Learn more here:Parent Support Group Flyer (Spanish)
Video Overview of Parent Support Group (Spanish)
Substance Abuse Support Group for Children: Please see this flyer for information about a virtual group to support children dealing with the impacts of a loved ones substance abuse.
About Us
Email: jmcgowan@dedham.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/greenlodge
Location: 191 Greenlodge Street, Dedham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-310-4000
Facebook: facebook.com/GreenlodgeDedham
Twitter: @GLDGESchool